A new report by IDC claims that 1.31 million 3G iPhones will be shipped to Australia by the end of 2012 in order to satisfy the increasing consumer demand for converged mobile devices.

In Q1 2008, IDC reported that 2.02 million mobile devices were shipped to Australia, and 570,000 of those were converged devices.

Over the next five years, IDC believes converged devices will account for 50 percent of the mobile market in Australia.

“Australia's fascination with GPS shows no signs of slowing. Consequently, Apple's new 3G iPhone has reacted to demand,” said Mark Novosel, Market Analyst, Telecommunications at IDC.

With the recent announcement that the new 3G iPhone will make its way to Australia on July 11, IDC believes the phone’s current worldwide appeal, coupled with its new convergent functions, will make it a major player in the mobile market.

It predicts this enthusiasm will result in the iPhone owning 7.38 percent of the converged market by 2012.

But the iPhone is not the only converged mobile product expected to launch in the coming months. IDC believes customers won’t be limited to that product for convergent mobiles.

“It wouldn't be unusual to experience stock shortages in the initial months after launch and given that the HTC Diamond and Blackberry Bold should be launching shortly after, frustrated consumers may quickly opt for other comparable devices," said Novosel.

Aussies' desire for the latest, feature-rich mobiles has also resulted in a growing mobile replacement rate, which IDC expects to exceed 42.7 percent in 2008.